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Vincent Root, 58, of Philadelphia, was charged with seven counts of sexual assault and seven counts of child endangerment at Chatsworth Elementary School, according to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw
Root was taken into custody Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Prosecutor’s Office in Mount Holly and held in Burlington County Jail pending a detention hearing in Superior Court.
District officials said Root has been placed on administrative leave and has been banned from school property.
The investigation began last month after a student came forward and accused Root of touching him inappropriately during previous school years. The investigation revealed that the victims, all of whom are male, were touched in classrooms inside the school building. The investigation further revealed that the abuse occurred over a multi-year period.
The names, ages and further details about the victims are being withheld in an attempt to protect the identity of the victims.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police. The lead BCPO investigator was Detective Gary D’Alessio.
Anyone with information concerning this defendant that might be helpful to investigators is asked to send an email to tips@co.burlington.nj.us or call 609-265-5035 and ask to speak to a detective in the Special Victims Unit.
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